Sierra Theis, Dave Borchert, Jay Backer, Chip Rasche, and Jacob Stueber (L-R) stand behind Girl Scout Josie Simonson as she donates cookies to the New Ulm Police Department. Simonson donated 268 cookie boxes in total to the Police and Fire departments, New Ulm Medical Center, NUMAS Haus, and Ivy House.

NEW ULM — One 9-year-old New Ulm Girl Scout decided she wanted to give back to her community in a very sweet way.

Josie Simonson donated 268 Girl Scout cookie boxes in total to the New Ulm Police and Fire departments, New Ulm Medical Center, NUMAS Haus, and Ivy House. She first tested the waters with a donation last year, asking for people to donate boxes to a good cause at their cookie booths. She was able to donate 36 boxes to the New Ulm Medical Center.

This year, they decided to go bigger.

In addition to boxes donated by customers at their cookie booths, Josie Simonson went from business to business with her mom Diane Simonson asking for $60 in donations for cookie boxes. Diane Simonson said they went to 20-25 local businesses and raised over $1,000 in donations. From there, the donated money was converted into Thin Mints and Do-si-dos galore.

Josie Simonson said she wanted to give back to the organizations that do so much for the community.

“They do a lot of good stuff for the town,” she said. “I thought it’d be nice to donate to them.”

Diane Simonson said this is an activity many other Girl Scout troops do, looking to support local groups while also having a good time.

“They pick a charity in town or something they really want to get behind,” she said, “They raise all this money and take all the donations to them. That’s one of the best parts of the year, being able to give all the donations at the end.”

Josie Simonson agreed donating cookie boxes has been a fun time, and it allowed her to reach her goal of selling 1,500 Girl Scout cookie boxes. She said the feeling of happiness donating was what she enjoyed most.

With Girl Scouts as a whole, Diane Simonson said it has helped her daughter come out of her shell and gives them opportunities to have fun and learn with others.

“I think she gets more confidence, especially with the cookie selling, but it’s still so fun just to be with other girls their age learning things,” she said. “They get to experience opportunities they might not otherwise. They got to go to the Bell Museum up in the cities I think last year to participate in a STEM Girl Scout activity.”

Not only are their donations something the Simonsons are looking to continue to do, but they are also looking to expand and bring more aid to those who provide for the community.

“It’d be fun to do this with our whole troop,” Diane Simonson said.